Now this had to be the very worst of regular positions, on a scale to 10it would rate minus 3. This delightful little setting was overrun a numberof times, but happily not while in our care. We weren't the prettiest unitaround, but tended not to lose or misplace hills. This was a lower fingerof 355 and poked straight into the guts of Charlie's territory, it wasdirectly below 227 which was one of his strong points. They took greatdelight in sniping us from there, they in well concealed bunkers whilst weflittered up and down our very sad trench system.

As can be plainly noted from this photo, the area was constantly underbarrages of incoming mail. The very depressed looking trees bear witnessto that fact. Actually the whole of 355 was once a thriving greenery, andit is again now in the year 2000.

During the night we would dig out the collapsed trenches and fightingpits. Quite often Charlie would have them blown back in the very next daywhich pleased us no end. Outposts here were 'hairy' jobs, Charlie oftensneaked up to try and snatch a prisoner. Not many of the lads dozed off asyou could guess.The row of sandbags could well have been the roof of platoon HQ bunker,placed on the blind side of the position. All of the bunkers in thissector had very thick roofs from sheer necessity, they were hit so oftenby Charlie's very accurate fire.

Every man who served here from November 51 until July 53 fully earnt hispay. Their nerves were as tight as piano wires, the merest sound wouldsend them diving to the ground poste haste. For the uninitiated, a shellor mortar screaming around isn't going to hit you. The one that is aboutto land in your lap gives but a fraction of a 'swish' as it arrives. Thesoldier with lightning reflexes can hit the deck at the same time and thussurvive. The fellow who was too slow usually became a mess, this was thefate of the 'new chums' most often.

To travel up and down the messy trenches meant a low crouch, and veryquick paces. By about mid 52 the Chinese had become so accurate with theirmortars and mountain guns, they could literally land a projectile into afighting pit. This caused the men here to shift observation postsfrequently, if Charlie saw the glint of the binoculars in the sun then hereacted quickly and efficiently.

The Australian platoon on this feature had to provide a 'flying patrol'each night. They stood to fully armed and ready to go in the event one ofthe patrols in disputed territory clashed with Charlie. That happenedoften enough, but it was the price paid to keep them from our doorstep andit worked.